Wednesday, February 8, 2017

The Dressmaker's Dowry

This was the perfect book to read during the Super Bowl! (shhh) Okay, so I am a huge football fan but I was not interested in this years match up so I read the majority of this book during the game with breaks for the commercials. Probably the first time in my adult life I did this.

For readers of Lucinda Riley, Sarah Jio, or Susan Meissner, this gripping historical debut novel tells the story of two women: one, an immigrant seamstress who disappears from San Francisco’s gritty streets in 1876, and the other, a young woman in present day who must delve into the secrets of her husband’s wealthy family only to discover that she and the missing dressmaker might be connected in unexpected ways.

An exquisite ring, passed down through generations, connects two women who learn that love is a choice, and forgiveness is the key to freedom...

San Francisco: 1876

Immigrant dressmakers Hannelore Schaeffer and Margaret O'Brien struggle to provide food for their siblings, while mending delicate clothing for the city's most affluent ladies. When wealthy Lucas Havensworth enters the shop, Hanna's future is altered forever. With Margaret's encouragement and the power of a borrowed green dress, Hanna dares to see herself as worthy of him. Then Margaret disappears, and Hanna turns to Lucas. Braving the gritty streets of the Barbary Coast and daring to enter the mansions of Nob Hill, Hanna stumbles upon Margaret’s fate, forcing her to make a devastating decision...one that will echo through the generations.

San Francisco: Present Day

In her elegant Marina apartment overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, Sarah Havensworth struggles to complete the novel she quit her job for. Afraid to tell her husband of her writer’s block, Sarah is also hiding a darker secret—one that has haunted her for 14 years. Then a news headline from 1876 sparks inspiration: Missing Dressmakers Believed to be Murdered. Compelled to discover what happened to Hannelore and Margaret, Sarah returns to her roots as a journalist. Will her beautiful heirloom engagement ring uncover a connection to Hanna Schaeffer?

My thoughts:

This book hooked you in with the historical San Francisco storyline. It was fast paced and the mystery was definitely one that kept the pages turning. The past storyline was probably my favorite. I really wanted to know what was going to happen to Hanna next.

The present day storyline had me roll my eyes a few times. Like how Sarah could marry her husband and not share a pretty major part of her past with him. It was far more predictable than the past. I felt it was necessary but could have been given a better intrigue in her story. The throw in of her old magazines new editor was just a bit much.

I think this book is quite timely in reminding us that immigrants have always been judged harshly in America. It's never been easy, but it's always been worth it. Our ancestors bled and died for us to have the lives in the United States that we have today. We should look back on their mistakes and know that you shouldn't be scared of new immigrants just because they are different than you. Also, to think that back then there was no real immigration policy and people could randomly be turned back and sent back home or who knows who could just come! Families got ripped apart then like they are ripped apart now. But for always, America is a dream for many and the dream is simple. Be free, work hard, and do better for your family without fear of persecution because of your religion, skin color, or sex. Let's get it together America.

One last thing. The name of the book. It should be different in my opinion. Dowry? Doesn't seem to fit the book. I just had to get that out. Maybe I'm missing something.

In conclusion, if you like historical novels, are interested in 1876 San Francisco (fascinating!), or just looking for a quick read that will make you think a bit, pick up The Dressmaker's Dowry by Meredith Jaeger.